Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes the Rohit Sharma-led side should have the mindset to defeat top-ranked Test team Australia 4-0 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins on Thursday in Nagpur.
He also predicted that the ball would turn in the series opener.
Following Nagpur, India and Australia will play matches in New Delhi, Dharamshala, and Ahmedabad. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently held by India, which has won the last three series against Australia in 2017, 2018-19, and 2020-21, while Australia last won a Test series in India in 2004.
"India should look to win 4-0, we're playing at home. I'm brutal. I've been to two tours of Australia, I know what's happened. My mindset would be, 'How can I beat Australia 4-0 if I'm the coach', which means day one, I want a ball to pitch on leg stump and hit off stump."
"I want it to rip. If someone asks me what kind of pitch? Expect that. If you lose the toss, expect the ball to turn in the first session of play. That's what I want, and take it from there," said Shastri on The ICC Review show on Wednesday.
Shastri also suggested that India should include left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav in their playing eleven in Nagpur to diversify their bowling attack. "I want to see some magic. I'd like to see more Kuldeep Yadav material. If you lose the toss on day one, if the pitch isn't turning and the finger spinner isn't getting enough, I want a leg spinner to be able to rip it. Spin it first, probably before any other spinner in the game."
With Ravindra Jadeja fully recovered from a knee injury that necessitated surgery last year, Shastri stated that the left-arm spin all-rounder will replace Axar Patel in the playing eleven and form a formidable pair with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, whom he referred to as India's trump card.
"(Ravindra) Jadeja returns to the side; it was always going to be Jadeja or Axar (Patel). You can actually play both if you want to improve your batting. But the big card for me is Ash. A (Ravichandran) Ashwin in form could help India dominate this series."
"If he's in shape, really good shape. And I don't just mean with the ball. In these circumstances, he can play a significant role with the bat as well as lower down the order. I believe India will win this series if he is on fire. Easily."
Shastri concluded by saying that India should play two fast bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, with Jasprit Bumrah still out. "Based on what they have, I believe Mohammed Siraj and Mohammad Shami. Umesh (Yadav) bowled well in Bangladesh, but these two boys have been playing a lot together, so they're match fit, in form (whether it's white ball or red ball), and they can play. They can get started."